HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 2923
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in
their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a
statement of legislative intent.
As Passed House:
February 12, 2008
Title: An act relating to providing an alternative method for weight tickets for transporting hay or straw.
Brief Description: Providing an alternative method for weight tickets for transporting hay or straw.
Sponsors: By Representatives Hinkle, Warnick, Blake, Chandler, Hailey, Schmick, Kretz, Williams, Eickmeyer, Condotta, McCune, VanDeWege and Newhouse.
Brief History:
Agriculture & Natural Resources: 1/28/08, 1/31/08 [DP].
Floor Activity:
Passed House: 2/12/08, 97-0.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES
Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 11 members: Representatives Blake, Chair; Van De Wege, Vice Chair; Kretz, Ranking Minority Member; Warnick, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Eickmeyer, Grant, Loomis, McCoy, Nelson, Newhouse and Orcutt.
Staff: Colleen Kerr (786-7168).
Background:
Statute requires that every dealer and commission merchant dealing in hay or straw must
obtain a certified vehicle tare weight and a certified vehicle gross weight for each load hauled
and must furnish the consignor with a copy of the certified weight ticket within 72 hours after
taking delivery. It is a statutory violation for any licensee to transport hay or straw purchased
by weight without the licensee having obtained a certified weight ticket from the first
licensed public weighmaster encountered on the ordinary route to the destination for
unloading the hay or straw.
A dealer is any person who is not a cash buyer and who solicits for the purposes of reselling.
A commission merchant is any person who receives agricultural purchases on consignment
for resale. A consignor is any producer who sells, ships, or delivers agricultural product to
any dealer or commission agent. A licensee is any person or business licensed under statute,
among other things, as a dealer or commission agent.
Tare weight is the weight of a vehicle or container when it is empty. Generally, to calculate
the net weight of a load, the container is weighed to establish the tare weight and then
weighed again for the gross weight, and the tare is subtracted from the gross to determine
how heavy the load is.
Summary of Bill:
If the dealer or commission merchant and a consignor agree in advance and in writing, a
certified vehicle tare weight and certified vehicle gross weight may be obtained from a hay or
straw processing facility, using a scale approved by the Director of the Washington State
Department of Agriculture.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:
(In support) This bill provides a technical fix to a gap in the law. As it stands, one must load
up their vehicle with the hay or straw and then drive to get it weighed without knowing
whether the vehicle is over weight. In the meantime, the state patrol can pull the vehicle
over and issue a citation. This bill will allow the hay and straw processors to issue weight
tickets and facilitates farmers getting their product to market.
(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying: Representative Hinkle, prime sponsor.